Retro style - everything we forget, comes back again

Nostalgia for an epoch of certain interior decorating techniques is what we call Retro style sometimes. But is it? How this style is different from other decorating styles, when it emerged, what is it's gem and what are the ways to bring it back home? Let's find out together.

History of Retro style

In designer's world retro style is considered to consist of several styles. There reason for this is that some treat it like a technique of decorating interiors in time spirit of 1950-70's. Others suppose that retro style had been forming through out all 20th century, and this is why it is so versatile, so different.

You can experiment and improvise with no fear, due to this fact. Use and combine fascinating decorative constructions, materials, colors, textures, based on tendencies and style of the past - as a result you will achieve a perfect result in retro style interior decoration!

Mood of retro style

But still, retro and country styles differ a lot. First of all, retro is an urban style. And for that time only ultra modern and fashionable furniture and decorative elements were used.

Besides that, retro style differs by a colorful palette, it's vitality, unusual constructions and forms. It is far away from being peaceful and calm. It is opposite - loud, screaming, weird moods in interior.

Colors of retro style

The easiest way to add elements of retro style to your interior is to use common colors of the style:

These colors highlight the famous patterns of retro style: cell, pattern "eastern cucumber".

Materials of retro style

Retro style offers to us a variety of decorative techniques as well as materials and textiles. Hardwood flooring, marble, decorative plaster with waxing, velvet upholstering.

We remember that 50-70's of 20th century opened a lot of new, never known before hand made materials: vinyl, plastic, synthetic fabric.

There is no surprise, that interiors decorated with bright synthetic fabric, plastic decorating element, polyester upholstering considered a modern and stylish.

Flooring and walls

The trend to use decoration elements with unusually bright tones led to using ceramic and vinyl tiles for flooring finish. Tiles were put in chess order as well as randomly, without any consideration of color unity.

Hardwood floors were decorated by colorful carpets and rugs. There is no need to look for flooring finish materials of that epoch to create an interior in retro style.

As we would do with furniture. There is a vast selection of ceramic tiles, carpets of proper palette, laminate flooring is presented nowadays.

The walls can be plastered and painted in light tones; bright pattern wallpapers can be used as well.

Furniture

Retro style furniture is characterized by it's solidness, usability, functional qualities. Furniture of different types, colors and collections is used to find it's place in a retro style interior.

Furniture of that period is characterized by wood polished elements, wooden elements in armchairs.

If you have a piece of furniture like this, wipe dust down, polish it's wooden parts, paint it or apply an avant-garde pattern, geometrical figures, stripes of different tones and colors or even a floral pattern.